VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Auto Trader Group plc vs LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.

Auto Trader Group plc

AUTO · London Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorCommunication Services
Industry
CountryGB
Data as of2026-01-10
Moat score
96/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into Auto Trader Group plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View AUTO analysis

LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

LPLA · Nasdaq

Market cap (USD)$28.8B
Gross margin (TTM)24.1%
Operating margin (TTM)9.5%
Net margin (TTM)5.4%
SectorFinancials
IndustryFinancial - Capital Markets
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-26
Moat score
79/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into LPL Financial Holdings Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View LPLA analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Auto Trader Group plc leads (96 / 100 vs 79 / 100 for LPL Financial Holdings Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Auto Trader Group plc has 2 segments (93.3% in Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)); LPL Financial Holdings Inc. has 1 segment (100% in Advisor Platform).
  • Primary market structure: Quasi-Monopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Auto Trader Group plc has 4 moat types across 2 domains; LPL Financial Holdings Inc. has 6 across 4.

Primary market context

Auto Trader Group plc

Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)

Market

UK digital automotive marketplace (new & used) with retailer advertising/data products

Geography

United Kingdom

Customer

Consumers, vehicle retailers, OEMs/advertising agencies

Role

Two-sided marketplace + advertising/data & workflow tools

Revenue share

93.3%

LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

Advisor Platform

Market

Advisor-mediated wealth management platform (independent broker-dealer + RIA custody/clearing)

Geography

United States

Customer

Financial advisors and financial institutions

Role

Platform / broker-dealer / custodian

Revenue share

100%

Side-by-side metrics

Auto Trader Group plc
LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
AUTO - London Stock Exchange
LPLA - Nasdaq
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$28.8B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
24.1%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
9.5%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
5.4%
Sector
Communication Services
Financials
Industry
n/a
Financial - Capital Markets
HQ country
GB
US
Primary segment
Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)
Advisor Platform
Market structure
Quasi-Monopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
75%-80% (reported)
23%-25% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
96 / 100
79 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand
Supply, Demand, Legal, Network
Last update
2026-01-10
2025-12-26

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Two Sided Network

Auto Trader Group plc strengths

Data Workflow LockinHabit DefaultEcosystem Complements

LPL Financial Holdings Inc. strengths

Scale Economies Unit CostSuite BundlingOperational ExcellenceCompliance AdvantageSwitching Costs General

Segment mix

Auto Trader Group plc segments

Full profile >

Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)

Quasi-Monopoly

93.3%

Autorama (vehicle leasing marketplace)

Competitive

6.7%

LPL Financial Holdings Inc. segments

Full profile >

Advisor Platform

Oligopoly

100%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.